Cheerful Frugality Explores Extremes
As frugality bumps into mainstream media, I'm hearing more backlash from both sides. Basic magazine tips are laughable to serious tightwads; meanwhile, new money savers recoil at the thought of day-old bread.
How should frugal writers approach the situation? Do you feel, as I do, that you might be missing the mark?
When it comes to sharing what's too frugal (or not frugal enough), this classic post by Amy of Momadvice says it best:
Go on, leave your encouraging comments to one another. Consider it a present to a frugal friend...and wrap it up with a giant bow sewn from dryer lint, secondhand clothes, and a shoestring!
My family doesn't have to practice survival frugality at the moment. But don't think that lighthearted posts and recipes aren't tempered by a serious desire to live below our means.
We are all just a job loss or major illness away from being humbled.
I'll continue to share what I do well--finding the beauty in our budget--and you keep sharing your Frugal Hacks, both beginning and advanced.
We'll be here for one another when we need help. That's what Frugal Hacks is all about.
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5 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Explores Extremes”
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Thank you for this post and for linking to the post from Amy. Both very encouraging, and much needed to anyone today.
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:28 am
It does seem like some of the nouvelle frugal are less than seriously committed. I’ve recommended The Tightwad Gazette several times only to be met with “that’s too extreme for us.” And that’s fine, but please don’t cotinue to complain to me about how hard you have it right now.
One thing I especially love about your blog is that you make even extreme frugality appealing.
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 am
The best time to learn to live frugally (and reap the benefits) is when you don’t need it. Starting this path some time ago has helped me weather the rough economy of today. I’m still learning but am glad I found I could save before and live on less now.
I really enjoy this blog!
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I think it is always so helpful to remember that we can only begin from where we are. Just as that wonderful $1 cashmere sweater at Goodwill won’t fit me, my sister in law, and my best friend, every tip or hint will not reach every person.
For those of us raised with frugal ways or who have practiced frugal living for a long time, it is easy to scoff at both the magazine tips or our friends’ ideas of what are extreme measures, but for them, such shifts may be dramatic or even scary. And if their goals are to live more responsibly, everyone wins with a little encouragement.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:00 am
To people who are just starting out on finding ways to live within their means (after years of living over their means), sometimes the very basic steps need to be pointed out. As Missy K points out, we can only begin from where we are. And of course, small beginnings can grow – so people who start out with basic steps today, might become super frugal in years to come. At http://www.slash-your-costs.com, we aim to get people to cut their living costs by a third, and we do do that by pointing out lots of different ways that people unthinkingly spend money, and showing them how much it works out to.
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